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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

There's a lot of dissonance, but I think it sounds neat, and it sure goes with the title. I can picture what you are visualizing... More specifically, I am depicting a scene from Dracula.

Again, I'm no expert at composition, but as a peer, I really like this composition. It sounds to me like you put a lot of work into and still held on to it's purpose. Emotionally, I feel this is a very effective piece. Good job!

Sounds OK and would fit well with a low-budget film on Sci-fi, maybe even LivingTV!

Try to be a bit more original and perhaps listen to a bit of Stravinsky and Ligeti... it brings a whole new meaning to dark!

The quasi-romanticism mixed with 1980's horror motif's don't really sit well anymore. If you're going for a TV career, sure, LivingTV may be interested but in all honesty, anything outside this idiom is going to mean a serious change in musical direction for you if you want to stand out.

Thanks for the feedback Gemi and James! It’s always interesting to hear different opinions – and I really appreciate it.

Glad the title made sense to you Gemi. Actually I was thinking more in terms of a murder mystery/ thriller, rather than horror. More specific; a beautiful woman that has a strong desire to slit mens’ throats (I guess that would be horror). I even used a photo of such a woman as inspiration. I do have two tracks titled “Dracula” & “Vampire” though.

James, I understand your direction in composition. I am knowledgeable in the realm of 12-tone music. It just never struck a nerve with me; at least not to the degree of romantic era music. I still believe a composer can be original in both these idioms.

I do think 12-tone music would lock a composer into a smaller box than romantic era music (my opinion of course). Actually I don’t set out to compose in any specific style. I just let my emotions guide me (in co-ordination with the subject matter).

I do differ from your opinion about today's styles of music in film. The majority of film and TV that I watch still use the romantic era characteristics in the background music (often with effects added).

I also agree that 12-tone music can make great horror tracks. However, most present day horror films (and I watch many of them – for the music) still use the romantic era base – even the new soundtrack of “The Mummy”.

My philosophy on music (besides my signature) would go something like this:“Music is nothing more than pure emotion expressed musically while contained in an intelligible musical structure”.

Music is subjective (of course it is); that would explain the large diversity of musical taste (why one listener loves Chopin, another prefers Stravinsky, and yet another idolizes Billy Joel.

P.S. The subject of diversity in musical style would make a very interesting topic here (which is better/more original kind of dialogue). I wouldn’t mind if this post would become such an interesting read.